March 4, Second Sunday in Lent

Lesson: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:5b

Sermon Title: Love Does Not Insist On Its Own Way - Individually

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INTRODUCTION:

Farm Inspection (1)

A cocky Department of Agriculture representative stopped at a farm and talked with the old farmer: "I need to inspect your farm."

The old farmer said, "You better not go in that field."

The Agriculture representative said in a "wise" tone, "I have the authority of the U. S. Government with me. See this card? I am allowed to go wherever I wish on agricultural land."

So the old farmer went about his farm chores.

Later, the farmer heard loud screams and saw the Department of Agriculture man running for the fence; close behind was the farmer's prize bull. The bull was madder than a nest full of hornets, and the bull was gaining at every step.

"Help," the rep shouted to the farmer, "What should I do?" he screamed helplessly.

The old farmer, hooking his thumbs in his overalls, called out: "Show him your card."

  1. Here is a man who insisted in doing his work his own way.

    1. He will not listen to the expertese of the farmer.

    2. He will not take counsel from the farmer.

    3. He will not learn from the environment in which he functions.

    4. So the results are not what he expected.

  2. What does that mean to insist on one's own way from the individual's point of view

    1. Do I not have the right to insist in my own way?

    2. How does that relate to the family.

    3. How does that relate to God?

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MAIN BODY:

  1. It needs to be said at the outset that there is one sphere where I need to insist on my own way.

    1. There are some things that only I can do for myself.

      1. I ought to have a personal relationship with God.

        1. This is based on an understanding of the scriptures.

        2. This is based on my understanding and appreciation of who God is.

        3. This is based on my understanding and appreciation of what God offers.

        4. This is based on my understanding and appreciation of what God requires.

      2. I ought to be able to seek my own place in the world.

        1. I am responsible for the education I receive

        2. And the goal of that education.

          1. It is necessary to acquire and use the resources that will allow that dream to come to fruition.

          2. It may be that the educational institution that I desire to attend is unobtainable.

          3. There is an educational institution that I may attend.

    2. The individual ought not to depend on people doing what the individual ought to do for his or her own self.

  2. There is no room in Congregationalism for dictators.

    1. A dictator is one who insists on his or her own way.

    2. I have found myself in that position.

      1. One time, I thought I knew best.

Robert Vanderwall

Bob was a layperson in charge of the annual community fund-raising program.

It was taking too long.

The money was not coming in.

The deadline was approaching.

It was my reputation on the line.

So, I took over.

We reached our goal, but Bob insulted and feeling rejected left the church.

That was as it could be.

Without rationalizing his position I had to admit it was my fault.

I was a dictator.

I clearly, intellectually and emotionally saw the results of my dictatorship.

I resolved not to do it again.

I learned that authoritarian leadership simply does not work well.

It is destructive because it hinders the development of self and skills.

    1. What happens when a parent insists on his or her own way.

Mother walks into the bedroom and discovers her half-dressed 5/6 year old son playing with his toys.

She goes to the dresser, opens a drawer, and gets a t-shirt.

We're leaving in a few minutes

Please put this on!

NO!

What did you say? NO!

Please, Zack, put your shirt on, I don't have time for this.

NO!

After 10 minutes of threats and pleading nothing is happening.

Mother and child are at an impasse.

Mom is going to be late for work and Zack is going to be late for school

Mom can force Zack to put on his t-shirt.

WHAT WILL BE THE RESULTS?

  1. What happens when a spouse insist on his or her own way?

      1. In the midst of an argument on spouse heads for a different room.

      2. The other spouse wants to know what went wrong.

        1. What did I do?

        2. What may be done to resolve the situation.

      3. One spouse is insisting on his/her own way.

      4. If this pattern of behavior continues one spouse is going to give up.

      5. It drains energy and leaves one mentally and emotionally exhausted.

      6. The end result is that one has done all that can be done.

      7. If this is what you want to do, go ahead.

      8. I will disengage.

    1. What happens when you insist on your own way with God.

      1. God lays down a pattern of belief that you choose to neglect or ignore.

      2. God creates a pattern of action that you choose to neglect or ignore.

      3. You play God.

      4. You only do what you want to do.

      5. God says okay, but what are the consequences.

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  1. Love must be unconditional.

    1. It means accepting people for what they are.

    2. It means allowing them to be themselves.

    3. It means taking into consideration the place where they are in their development of their own relationship with Jesus Christ.

    4. In 1 Corinthians 10:23 -11:1, NRSVA), Paul writes about a difficulty that developed in Corinth over the use of one's conscience.

      1. It relates to meat offered to idols.

      2. This may not be a difficulty for us today, but we can relate to what he is teaching in so many ways.

  1. If one does not insist on his or her own way, how do things get done?

    1. It takes a different perspective.

      1. Instead of concentrating on self alone, one also makes room for others.

Konosuke Matsushita, founder of Panasonic, in his book VELVET GLOVE, IRON FIST (2), writes about Zeng Shen

Zeng Shen was young enough to be Confucius's grandson, yet he won high praise from the old sage.

One of the sayings for which Zeng Shen is famous goes something like this.

"Every day I ask myself three questions.

The first is, `Have I sinned in my thoughts and actions towards others?'

The second is, `Have I broken faith in any of my friendships?'

The third is, `Have I tried to teach anything to others I have not fully learned and understood myself?'"

If Zeng Shen asked himself these three questions every day, resolving to make no mistakes, then, young as he was, we can well understand why Confucius praised him.

    1. It is important for us to see how these questions can be practically applied in our lives.

Gene Perret, USING HUMOR FOR EFFECTIVE BUSINESS SPEAKING, (3) writes about a gentleman who was traveling on a coast- to-coast non-stop flight that was being terrorized by a five-year-old youngster.

The boy ran up and down the aisles disrupting business people who were doing paper work, waking those who were sleeping, tearing headsets off of people who were trying to listen to music.

The passengers were desperate. They suggested that he be locked up somewhere, that he be bound and gagged,

that the parents be arrested--anything to make their trip more pleasant.

Finally, this one gentleman spoke to the flight attendant who spoke to the flight crew.

They made room for the boy in the first seat on the plane, and with some creativity, fashioned a steering wheel from a plate, a rudder from some sort of stick, and several other flying instruments from different odds and ends.

Then the pilot came back and asked the lad if he would help him fly the plane.

The child was delighted. He sat up front with the pilot next to him and was "taught" how to fly.

The pilot excused himself and left the boy in charge of "flying" the plane the rest of the way.

The boy enthusiastically and reasonably quietly piloted the plane into a safe landing at San Francisco.

Many of the passengers thanked the gentleman for his ingenuity.

One asked how he ever thought of it.

The man said, "You were all trying to solve your problem. I tried to solve the boy's."

  1. Love does not insist on it's own way.

    1. Love uses positive influence in order to create a different set of circumstances.

    2. Love uses persuasion in order to find a solution.

    3. Love uses compromise, except when one's faith might be compromised.

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CONCLUSION:

  1. This is the Season of Lent

    1. I have not spoken about the events of the Lectionary.

    2. Lent ends in Holy Week.

      1. We will observe the services of Holy Week.

      2. Maundy Thursday, with a supper and communion

      3. Good Friday with emphasis on the crucifixion of Jesus.

    3. Jesus dies our death so that we might live his life.

    4. How does he do this.

      1. Some die in shame.

        1. They go kicking and screaming, being dragged to the place of execution.

        2. There is no repentance, only regret.

      2. Jesus dies with dignity.

        1. The Innocent One provides for the needs of his mother.

        2. The Innocent One pleads in a prayer for his executioners.

    5. He is teaching us the meaning and purpose of love.

  2. Can we do any less for one another and for the people with whom we make contact in the world in which we live?

    1. Love does not insist on its own way!

1. Mikey's Funnies [funnies-owner@lists.MikeysFunnies.com]

2. Konosuke Matsushita, founder of Panasonic, in his book VELVET GLOVE, IRON FIST (PHP Institute, Inc.). Cited in Soundings.

3. Gene Perret, USING HUMOR FOR EFFECTIVE BUSINESS SPEAKING (New York, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1989).

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